Borehole apparatus valves



May 3, 1966 Filed June 14, 1963 W. O. BERRYMAN BOREHOLE APPARATUS VALVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. W//// 0/77 0. Berry/774m ATTOR/VEV May 3, 1966 Filed June 14, 1963 w. o. BERRYMAN 3,249,124

BOREHOLE APPARATUS VALVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ql l INVENTOR. W////0/77 0. fier/ymar/ W Mia 3,249,124 BOREHOLE APPARATUS VALVES William 0. Berrymau, Houston, Tex., assignor to Schlumberger Well Surveying Corporation, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed June 14, 1963, Ser. No. 287,980 Claims. (Cl. 137-629) This invention relates to valves in borehole apparatus and, more particularly, to full-opening, selectively-open ated valves.

In a number of borehole operations, it is desirable to lower a drill string into a well bore in a dry condition where the lower end of the drill string is closed off from the mud or well bore fluid. In some of these operations, for example in a drill stern test, a packer is at the lower end of the tubing string and in addition to running the drill string dry, it is desirable, after the packer is set, to have a full-opening passageway for squeezing operations. In another use, a full-opening passageway is desirable to shock formations prior to completion or permit the running of completion tools through the drill string and packer.

For full-opening passages, full-opening valves have been developed. However, such valves normally require a removable center section or are difficult to open because of the high-differential pressure holding them closed.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved full-opening valve with means for pressure balancing before opening to facilitate operation of the valve.

Apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes in a drill string, telescopically-mounted inner and outer tubular assemblies movable between spaced longitudinal positions, a normally-closed flap valve in the assemblies, and normally-closed bypass valve meansin the assemblies operable when the assemblies are intermediate of their longitudinal positions to bypass the flap valve permitting pressure equalization across the valve before it is open.

The novel features of the present invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner .of operation together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by way of illustration and example of certain embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of apparatus embodying the present invention and disposed in a well bore;

FIG. 2 is a view in longitudinal cross-section taken along line 22 of FIG. 3 and illustrating apparatus embodying the present invention with the tubular assemblies disposed in an extended position;

FIG. 3 is a view in horizontal cross-section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the tubular assemblies in an intermediate position; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but taken along line 55 of FIG. 3 and showing the tubular assemblies in a contracted position.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 apparatus 12 embodying the present invention is coupled to a conventional well tool apparatus 13 which, for example, may be a full-opening drill stem testing tool 13 having a packer 13a. Apparatus 13 is full-opening, that is, it has a large diametrical size, say about 2", to accommodate small-sized tools for passage therethrough. Packer 13a can, of course, be set in the casing 14 in a customary manner.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the apparatus United States Patent 0 3,249,124 Patented May 3, 1966 ice 12 of the present invention includes telescopicallymounted inner and outer generally tubular mandrel assemblies and 21, the inner mandrel assembly 20 having a central, full-opening bore 22 substantially the same size as the bore of a pipe string. The upper end of the inner mandrel assembly 20 is arranged for coupling to a pipe string (not shown) while the outer mandrel assembly 21 is arranged for connection to a well tool 13 which includes a packer assembly 13a (FIG. 1). It should be appreciated for purposes of the present invention that a variety of anchor means might be used with assembly 21.

The inner and outer mandrel assemblies 20, 21 are keyed or interconnected for selective telescopic operation between extended, intermediate and collapsed positions by a J-slot 23 and pin 24 on the respective assemblies. This interconnection also includes outwardly-extending splines 25 (FIG. 3) on the inner mandrel assembly 20 which are received in an annular recess 26 in the outer mandrel assembly and inwardly-extending splines 27 on the outer mandrel assembly 21. In the position of pin 24 in slot 23 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, splines 25 and 27 abut. As will hereinafter become more apparent, splines 25 may be moved relative to splines 27 between upper and lower shoulders 28 and 29 in the outer mandrel assembly 21.

As shown particularly in FIG. '1, the J-slot 23 has a somewhat S-shape with upper, intermediate and lower horizontally offset locking slots 30, 31, 32 which permits the mandrel assemblies 20, 21 to be locked in upper and lower positions, and longitudinal or vertical connecting slots 30a, 31a permitting travel of the pin 24 between offset slots 30, 31 and 32. When the pin 24 is located in longitudinal slot 30a, splines 25 and 27 are arranged to mesh.

Near the lower end of the outer mandrel assembly 21 is a full-opening valve 33 including a flap valve member 34 pivotally mounted at 35 and provided with a closing spring 36. Spring 36 is arranged to normally seat the flap valve member 34 on an annular valve seat 37 in the outer mandrel assembly 21. Fluid under pressure within the interior 38 of the lower end of the outer mandrel assembly 21 will retain the flap valve member 34 in a closed position on the valve seat 37. When the mandrel assemblies 20, 21 are moved to a collapsed position, an end surface 39 (FIG. 2) on the inner mandrel assembly 20 engages the valve member 34 and forces it to a fullyopen position as shown in FIG. 5.

In the present invention, there are provided valve means to balance the pressure across the valve 33 prior to its opening. Such balancing means include longitudinally-extending passageways 40 in the wall of the outer mandrel assembly 21 which passageways are circumferentially spaced about the valve member 34. The passageways 40 extend between the interior 38 of the outer mandrel assembly 21 below the full-opening valve and an internal annular chamber 41 primarily formed 'between inner and outer walls of concentrically-arranged inner and outer tubular parts 42 and 43 of the outer mandrel assembly 21. Chamber 41 opens to a bore 44 in the outer mandrel assembly by means of at least one port 4 5 in the inner tubular part 42 of the outer mandrel assembly. To provide fiuid communication between the chamber 41 and the bore 22 of the inner mandrel assembly 20, the inner mandrel assembly is provided with at least one port 46. The index pin 24, the port 46 and the lower end 39 of the inner mandrel assembly 20 have fixed spacing relative to a fixed spacing of the J-slot 23, port 45 and valve member 34 of the outer mandrel assembly 20 so that:

(a) In an extended telescopic position of the mandrel assemblies, the ports 45 and 46 are longitudinally displaced; and

(b) In an intermediate telescopic position of the man drel assemblies 20, 21, the ports 45, 46 are in register with one another tor fluid communication, the spacing between the port 45 of the inner mandrel assembly and the valve member 34 being such that the flap valve member, 34 is not opened; and

(c) In a collapsed telescopic position, the valve 33 is fully opened.

O-ring seals such as identified by numeral 47 are provided in a conventional manner to prevent fluid leakage where necessary, and in particular, the annular chamber 41 is sealed by O-rings 48, 49 so that fluid flow through the annular chamber 41 is only through the passageways 40 and port 45 in the outer mandrel assembly. O-rings '50, 51, 52 are also provided above and below ports 4-5, 46 between the inner and outer mandrel assemblies 20, 21 to close off the ports 46 in the inner mandrel assembly from the displaced port 45 in the outer mandrel assembly in the extended telescopic position of the mandrel assemblies.

Inner mandrel assembly is also provided with an annular piston element 53 which is slidably and sealingly received within a bore 54 of the outer mandrel assembly. A port 55 is located in the upper mandrel assembly above the piston. A port 56 is also located in the outer mandrel assembly at the lower end of the bore 54 below the piston. The piston 53 thus provides pressure compensating for the tool to permit telescopic movement when the interior of the tool is at atmospheric pressure and the exterior of the tool is subject to high hydrostatic pressure.

In operation, the apparatus of the present invention is connected in a tubing string between a length of pipe string and, for example, a packer and initially is in its extended telescopic position as shown in FIG. 2 Where splines and 27 are abutting. In this extended position while going into a well bore, the flap valve member 34 is closed on seat 37 so that fluid in the interior 38 of the lower mandrel assembly 21 is prevented from communicating with the interior of tubing string above the full-opening valve. The interior of tubing string above the full-opening valve, therefore, may be either dry (empty) or loaded with a desired amount of selected fluid, such as water or a treating fluid.

At a level where operation of the full-opening valve is desired, the telescopic mandrel assemblies are moved relative to one another. This may be done, for example, by setting the packer "13, or in the case of an anchor or like, securing the outer mandrel assembly 21 relative to the well bore in such :a manner that the tubing string and attached inner mandrel assembly may be moved relative to the outer mandrel assembly. The tubing string is. picked up slightly and rotated clockwise so that the indexing pin 24 is aligned with the longitudinal slot a of the J-slot 23 (splines 25, 27 being aligned to mesh) and lowered. As the tubing string is lowered, the mandrel assemblies are brought to an intermediate position where ports 46 in the inner mandrel assembly 20 are placed into fluid communication with the ports in the outer mandrel assembly as shown in FIG. 4. Hence, fluid from below the flap valve member 34 is placed in communication with the interior of the inner mandrel assembly 20 via passageways 40 and chamber '41- so that the pressure across the flap valve member 34 is equalized. If a considerable pressure is to be equalized, the tubing string will be halted in the intermediate position until such a pressure equalization is obtained. Thereafter, the tubing string is again lowered to itslowermost position as shown in FIG. 5 so that the telescopic assemblies are in a collapsed telescopic position, the lower end 39 of the inner mandrel assembly opening the flap valve member 34 and seating in an annular, shouldered recess 57 (FIG. 4) in the outer mandrel assembly.

While a particular embodiment. of the present invention has been shown and described, it is apparent that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within th true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A full-opening valve for use in a well bore comprising: telescopically-mounted,inner and outer tubular mandrel assemblies relatively movable between extended and collapsed positions; flap valve means in said outer mandrel assembly normally closed when said assemblies are in an extended position; means on said inner mandrel assembly for opening said flap valve means when said assemblies are in a collapsed position; and bypass means around said flap valve means including a fluid passageway in said outer mandrel between the interior of said inner and outer mandrel assemblies, and valve means between said assemblies for opening and closing said fluid passageway, said valve means being responsive to the positioning of said mandrel assemblies in an extended position to close said fluid passageway and responsive to the positioning of said mandrel assemblies in an intermediate position to open said valve means thereby permitting pressure balancing between the interior of said inner and outer mandrel assemblies to either side of said flap valve means before said flap valve means is opened.

2. A full-opening valve for use in a well bore comprising: telescopicallymounted, inner and outer tubular mandrel assemblies movable between spaced longitudinal positions and respectively arranged for coupling in a string of pipe; said outer mandrel assembly having a valve seat and spring-biased flap valve member normally seated in said valve seat when said assemblies are in one of said longi tudinal positions, said inner mandrel assembly having means operative to displace said flap valve member from said valve seat when said assemblies are moved to the other longitudinal position; fluid bypass means formed in said assemblies separate from said flap valve member and extending between the interior of said inner and outer mandrel assemblies, said mandrel assemblies having spaced sealing elements therebetween preventing flow through said bypass means when said assemblies are in said one longitudinal position, said sealing elements being displaced when said assemblies are intermediate said longitudinal positions for opening said bypass means and placing the interior of said inner and outer mandrel assembly in fluid communication thereby permitting pressure balancing of the interior of said inner and outer mandrel assemblies before said flap valve member is displaced.

3. 'A full-opening valve for use in a wellibore comprising: telescopically-coupled inner and outer tubular mandrel assemblies movable between extended, intermediate and collapsed positions and respectively arranged for coupling in a string of pipe; said outer mandrel assembly having a valve seat, a pivotally mounted flap valve member arranged to seat in said valve seat, and spring means normally to seat said flap valve member in said valve seat when said assemblies are in an extended position, said inner mandrel assembly having a downward extension operative to displace said flap valve member from said valve seat when said assemblies are moved to a collapsed position; fluid bypass means separate from said flap valve member and including a passageway and openings in said assemblies to provide a fluid communication path between the interior of said inner and outer mandrel assemblies around said flap valve; and sealing means in said assemblies arranged to prevent fluid communication through said bypass means when said assemblies are in an extended position and arranged to permit fluid communication through said bypass means when said assemblies are intermediate of said extended and collapsed position prior to displacement of said flap valve member thereby permitting pressure balancing of the interior of said inner and outer mandrel assemblies before said flap valve member is displaced.

4. A full-opening valve for use in a well bore comprising: telescopically-coupled, inner and outer tubular mandrel assemblies movable between extended, intermediate and collapsed positions, and respectively arranged for coupling in a string of pipe; said outer mandrel assembly having a valve seat, a pivotally-mounted flap valve member arranged to seat in said valve seat, and spring means normally to seat said flap valve member in said valve seat when said assemblies are in an extended position; said inner mandrel assembly having a lower end operative to open said flap valve when said assemblies are moved to a collapsed position; a bypass passageway in said outer mandrel assembly extending between the interior of said outer mandrel assembly below said flap valve to an opening above said flap valve, said inner mandrel assembly having an opening in its Wall normally longitudinally displaced from said outer mandrel assembly opening when said assemblies are in an extended position, sealing means between said inner and outer mandrel assemblies to prevent fiuid communication between said assembly openings in said extended position, said openings being arranged to be placed in fluid communication with one another when said assemblies are intermediate of said extended and collapsed positions prior to the opening of said flap valve thereby permitting pressure balancing of the interior of said inner and outer mandrel assemblies before said flap valve is opened.

5. A full-opening valve for use in a well bore comprising: telescopically-mounted, inner and outer tubular mandrel assemblies movable between spaced longitudinal positions and respectively arranged for coupling in a string of pipe; indexing means for guiding movement of said mandrel assemblies between said positions; pressure-compensating means for permitting relative movement when the interior of said assemblies is at a low pressure relative to the pressure to the exterior of said assemblies, said outer mandrel assembly having a valve seat and a flap valve member arranged normally to seat in a valve seat when said assemblies are in one of said longitudinal positions, said inner mandrel assembly having an extension operative to displace said flap valve member from said valve seat when said assemblies are moved to the other longitudinal position; bypass means formed in said assemblies extending between the interior of said inner and outer mandrel assemblies including ports in said assemblies, sealing means on said assemblies arranged to seal off said ports from one another when said assemblies are in said one longitudinal position, said sealing means being displaced when said assemblies are intermediate said longitudinal positions for placing said ports of said inner and outer mandrel assembly in fluid communication thereby permitting pressure balancing of the interior of said inner and outer mandrel assemblies before said flap valve member is displaced.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,370,182 2/1945 Morrow et al. 137-601 2,850,102 9/ 1958 Brown 166226 2,853,265 9/1958 Clark 166-226 2,874,927 2/ 1959 Conrad 166226 X 2,921,601 1/1960 Fisher 137496 MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FULL-OPENING VALVE FOR USE IN A WELL BORE COMPRISING: TELESCOPICALLY-MOUNTED, INNER AND OUTER TUBULAR MANDREL ASSMBLIES RELATIVELY MOVABLE BETWEEN EXTENDED AND COLLAPSED POSITIONS; FLAP VALVE MEANS IN SAID OUTER MANDREL ASSEMBLY NORMALLY CLOSED WHEN SAID ASSEMBLIES ARE IN AN EXTENDED POSITION; MEANS ON SAID INNER MANDREL ASSEMBLY FOR OPENING SAID FLAP VALVE MEANS WHEN SAID ASSEMBLIES ARE IN A COLLAPSED POSITION; AND BYPASS MEANS AROUND SAID FLAP VALVE MEANS INCLUDING A FLUD PASSAGEWAY IN SAID OUTER MANDREL BETWEEN THE INTERIOR OF SAID INNER AND OUTER MANDREL ASSEMBLIES, AND VALVE MEANS BETWEEN SAID ASSEMBLIES FOR OPENING AND CLOSING SAID FLUID PASSAGEWAY, SAID VALVE MEANS BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE POSTIIONING OF SAID MANDREL ASSEMBLIES IN AN EXTENDED POSITION TO CLOSE SAID FLUID PASSAGEWAY AND RESPONSIVE TO THE POSITIONING OF SAID MANDREL ASEMBLIES IN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION OF SAID SAID VALVE MEANS THEREBY PERMITTING PRESSURE BALANCING BETWEEN THE INTERIOR OF SAID INNER AND OUTER MANDREL ASSEMBLIES TO EITHER SIDE OF SAID FLAP VALVE MEANS BEFORE SAID FLAP VALVE MEANS IS OPENED. 